Adjustable lamp shade



Oct. 25, 1966 P. J. CRONAN 3,281,589

ADJUSTABLE LAMP SHADE Filed March 12, 1964 INVENTOR. PHILIP J. CRONAN A TTORA/EVS United States Patent 3,281,589 ADJUSTABLE LAMP SHADE Philip J. Cronan, 1117 S. Bedford St., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Mar. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 351,328 2 Claims. (Cl. 240-144) This invention relates to lamp shades and more particularly to an improved lamp shade in which the level of the lamp shade relative to the lamp structure in adjustable.

Conventional lamp shades are usually provided with rigid frame means for supporting the shade with respect to the lamp at a given level. Thus the frame structure itself is secured to a harp which surrounds the light bulb. The lower peripheral edge of the shade will ordinarily extend below the level of the bulb when the shade is employed with the particular lamp structure for which it is designed.

Since lamp structures such as the post and base portions vary considerably in size as for example between simple floor and table lamps, several different types of lamp shades must be maintained in stock. These different shades include different supporting frames so that the level of the shade relative to the lamp structure will be such that the lamp is properly eclipsed by the shade.

It would save considerable inventory as well as eliminate the use of risers and different sized table lamps if a lamp shade could be provided in which the supporting frame therefor is adjustable so that its level relative to the light itself may readily be adjusted. With such a lamp shade, a single shade could serve multiple purposes in that it may be adapted readily to floor lamp type structures or table lamp structures by simply adjusting the supporting frame so that its level will be positioned properly with respect to the light bulb.

With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide an improved lamp shade incorporating supporting frame means which is adjustable to the end that the level of the shade with respect to the light bulb may be adjusted.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an improved lamp shade having an adjustable frame means so that it may be used with a number of different types of lamp structures such as floor lamps and/ or table lamps.

Another object is to provide an adjustable lamp shade in which the adjusting means itself is positive in operation and easy to adjust without any special tools so that the shade may be properly supported at a desired level with a minimum of inconvenience.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing telescoping members in the frame structure supporting the shade. Suitable manually operable clamping means is provided for clamping the telescoping members in desired positions so that the overall length of the frame mean-s is adjustable.

In the preferred form of the invention, the lamp shade includes a plurality of frame means extending from the upper peripheral portion of the shade to connect to the upper harp surrounding the light bulb and constituting part of the lamp structure. These frame means each include downwardly dropping portions which, in the preferred form of the invention, include the telescoping members. Each of the frame means is individually adjustable so that the shade may be leveled as well as adjusted in overall distance in a vertical direction.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary cut-away perspective view of the improved lamp shade of this invention in position on a lamp structure;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary elevaice tional view of one of the adjusting means incorporated in the lamp shade of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrow 2; and,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing an alternative adjusting means.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a lamp post 10 terminating at its upper end in a harp 11 surrounding a light bulb 12. The upper end of the harp 11 includes a securing means in the form of a nut 13 arranged to receive frame means 14, 15 and 16 extending from the upper peripheral portion of a light shade 17.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the lower periphery of the light shade 17 is disposed at a level a distance D from the light bulb 12 so that the light bulb 12 will be eclipsed by the light shade.

The particular frame means 14, 15 and 16 for supporting the shade 17 relative to the lamp structure include radially inwardly extending portions and thence downwardly dropping portions and thence further radially inwardly extending portions, all arranged to be secured by the nut 13 to the harp 11. In accordance with the instant invention, each of these frame means includes adjustable means in the downwardly dropping portions as indicated by the double-headed arrows in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, a first embodiment of a rotatable adjusting means is illustrated in detail wherein it will be noted that the frame structure 14 includes first and second telescoping members 18 and 19. The member 18 is connected to the peripheral portion of the light shade 17 and the member 19 connects to the lamp structure. As shown, the lower external portion of the first member 18 terminates in an externally threaded tapered means 20 which is adapted to be radially collapsed by providing an accommodating slit 21. The radial collapsing may be effected by a nut 22, which when threaded downwardly, will collapse the threaded portion to close the slit 21 and thus grip the second telescoping member 19.

In the operation of the structure of FIGURE 2, the telescoping member 19 is telescopically adjusted with respect to the first member 18 so that the overall length of the members are at a desired value. The nut 22 is then threaded down on the external threads 20 thereby frictionally clamping the second member 19. The members may be released for subsequent telescopic adjustment by simply unthreading the nut 22 to permit the tapered portion 20 to expand.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternative clamping means wherein there is provided first and second telescoping members 23 and 24. In FIGURE 3, the members are secured in a set telescoped position by means of a set screw 25 threaded laterally in the first member 23.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the adjustable lamp shade will be evident. The lamp shade 17 may be supported so that its lower peripheral end assumes a desired distance D from the bulb 12. Each of the frame means 14, 15 and 16 may then be individually adjusted until their inner ends are at a proper level to be secured by the nut 13 to the top of the harp 11. The frame means are then clamped in their adjusted positions and the nut 13 then secured in place.

Raising and lowering of the lamp shade may readily be effected simply by loosening the clamping means for each of the frame means and raising or lowering the lamp shade a desired distance. The clamping means may then be reclamped. In this respect, the lamp shade may be adjusted without removing it from the harp 11.

While only two particular clamping means have been shown, other equivalent means for clamping the telescoping members will occur to those skilled in the art. The adjustable lamp shade is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the particular embodiments set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable lamp shade for securement to a lamp structure, comprising: a light shade; and a plurality of frame means extending radially inwardly from the upper peripheral portion of said light shade, said frame means including portions dropping downwardly, said frame means then extending further radially inwardly to connect to said lamp structure and support said light shade at a given level with respect to said lamp structure, each of said portions of said frame means dropping downwardly including adjustment means for adjusting its length whereby said given level may be changed, said adjusting means including first and second telescoping members connected respectively to the part of said frame means extending from said light shade and the part of the frame means connecting to said lamp structure; and clamping means for holding said first and second telescoping members in a given telescoped position, said clamping means including rotatable adjusting means on saidfirst telescoping member for radially collapsing said first telescoping member onto the said second telescoping member.

2. An adjustable lamp shade for securement to a lamp structure, comprising: a lamp shade; a plurality of frame means extending radially inwardly from the upper peripheral portion of said lamp shade, said frame means includ- 25 ing portions dropping downwardly, said frame means then extending further radially inwardly to connect to said lamp structure and support said lamp shade at a given level with respect to said lamp structure, each of said portions of said frame means dropping downwardly including adjustment means for adjusting its length whereby said given level may be changed, said adjusting means including first and second telescoping members connected respectively to the part of said frame means extending from said light shade and the part of the frame means connecting to the lamp structure; and clamping means for holding said first and second telescoping members in a given telescoped position, said first member terminating in its downwardly directed end in externally threaded tapered means surrounding said second member, said clamping means comprising a nut threaded on said externally threaded tapered means so that downward threading of said nut collapses said tapered means to frictionally grip said second member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,974,077 9/1934 Lynch 240-148 X 2,900,496 8/1959 Williams 240144 X FOREIGN PATENTS 296,882 9/ 1928 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. CLOGAN II, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LAMP SHADE FOR SECUREMENT TO A LAMP STRUCTURE, COMPRISING: A LIGHT SHADE; AND A PLURALITY OF FRAME MEANS EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID LIGHT SHADE, SAID FRAME MEANS INCLUDING PORTIONS DROPPING DOWNWARDLY, SAID FRAME MEANS THEN EXTENDING FURTHER RADIALLY INWARDLY TO CONNECT TO SAID LAMP STRUCURE AND SUPPORT SAID LIGHT SHADE AT A GIVEN LEVEL WHEN RESPECT TO SAID LAMP STRUCURE, EACH OF SAID PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME MEANS DROPPING DOWNWARDLY INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING ITS LENGTH WHEREBY SAID GIVEN LEVEL MAY BE CHANGED, SAID ADJUSTING MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND TELESCOPING MEMBERS CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO THE PART OF SAID FRAME MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID LIGHT SHADE AND THE PART OF THE FRAME MEANS CONNECTING TO SAID LAMP STRUCTURE; AND CLAMPING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID FIRST AND SECOND TELESCOPING MEMBERS IN A GIVEN TELESCOPED POSITION, SAID CLAMPING MEANS INCLUDING ROTATABLE ADJUSTING MEANS ON SAID FIRST TELESCOPING MEMBER FOR RADIALLY COLLAPSING SAID FIRST TELESCOPING MEMBER INTO THE SAID SECOND TELESCOPING MEMBER. 